Outlet connection



Aug. 13, 1935. w. G. COLLING OUTLET CONNECTION 'F'il'ed June 5, 1933 INVENTOR. li/ilt'er 6-. Calling 1 I ATTORN Y.

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 V UNITED c STATES g 7 2,011,377; I OUTLET CONNECTION F Walter G. Calling, Ferndale, "Michg, assignor of one-half to Ferdinand Po'rath, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 5, 1933,,Seria1No. 674,397

2 Claims. (01, 173-330? vision of a device-whereby a detachable electrical connection may be made at an outlet and the entire connecting mechanism enclosed in a suitable housing.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with lighting fixtures having a canopy or a bracket back, and it is another object of the present invention to provide an outlet whereby a detachable connection of the lighting fixture to the source of electrical supply may be easily and quickly made at the outlet and in such a manner thatthe fixture may be detached and placed in position at will without requiring a permanent electrical connection .and without requiring alteration or mutilation of any of the parts of the fixture in removing or placing it in position.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an outlet of a closing receptacle having a centrally located supporting member mounted therein serving to support an electrical contact bearing member to which electrical connection may be easily and quickly made by means of a contact member carried by a fixture or the like which it is desired to mount in position at the outlet.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an outlet construction of this class of a cylindrical supporting member having a radially outwardly projecting flange at one end and a bulged portion at one side open at its rear for supporting plug sections for permitting electrical connection to be made easily and quickly therewith.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view of the invention showing it inuse,

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig, 1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the supporting sleeve used in the invention,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. G is a fragmentarysectional view taken on'line 6- -6 of Fig. 1; and j Fig. '7 is a fragmentary viewtaken on, lineT-1-1 of Fig l'; 1

In the drawing I have illustrated the invention used with an outlet box or enclosure 1 which is illustrated as. being positioned rearwardly' of' the opening 8 in the-plaster 9 which is laid against the outlet face of the'plaster ring 10." This plaster ring ll] is secured to the open face 16 of the box land is provided with the axially directed flange II which extends through the opening 8 and terminates in the radially 'di rected flange l2 to which is attached by screws, or in any other suitable manner, a supporting 15 member by means of its radially outwardly projecting flange [3. This flange 13 extends outwardly from one end of a supporting sleeve l4 which is preferably formed cylindrical and which at all events, is tubular. At the forward down- 20 ward side of the supporting member [4 the same is bulged outwardly as at l5 to provide the suspended space or chamber l5 which is partially closed by flange l3 at one end and open at its rear end. Mounted on the inner wall of 25 the box or receptacle 1 and projecting outwardly therefrom is a threaded stud IE on which is threaded the turnbuckle l1, commonly called a hickey. Threaded into the outer end of the turnbuckle I1 is a threaded stud l8 carryingthe clamping hook or arm l9. This structure is, in the trade, commonly called a French hook. The hook or clamping arm 59 is adapted to engage one face of a bar 20 which is carried by the canopy or bracket back 2| projecting out- 35 wardly from which'is a supporting arm 22 on which the fixture is mounted. This supporting arm 22 is tubular, and projecting therethrough is the cord 23 carrying the service wires 24 and 25. The outer ends of the wires 24 and 25 are, of course, connected to the fixture in the usual manner. The inner ends are connected by means of the screws 21 and 28 in engagement with the heads 29 and 28, respectively, and projecting from these heads 29 and 28 are the contact studs or prongs 3| and 30, respectively. These screws 26 and 21 thread into the plug or block 41 which is recessed as at 46 to accommodate the wires and screws. This connection 50 forms the male connection of a plug socket connection, and the prongs 30 and 3| serve as contacts adapted to engage the female contacts carried by the female portion of the plug. A plug 33 is mounted by means of screws 33 on 55 the bulged portion l5, these screws being projected through openings l4 in the flange i3.

A service cable 34 leads into the box or receptacle I and the service wires 35 and 36 are connected by means of the screws 31 and 38 with the female contacts 39 and 40 which are mounted on the plug 33. It will be noted that the supporting member I4 is arranged concentrically of the stud l6.v I

In use, the plug 33 is permanently mounted on the supporting member I4 and'the wires 35 and 36 are permanently attached to this female portion of the plug. When mounted in position as shown in Fig. 1, the fixture may be removed andreplaced at will and the electricalconnections made without requiring any permanent alterations or connections. The fixture may be termed a service unit and it will be noted that the plug connection is enclosed within the box 1 which may be considered an enclosing receptacle and that the service unit carries the plate which serves to cooperate with the housing to form a completely enclosed receptacle.

With present types of installations, it is customary to permanently connect the service wires 35 and 35 to the service unit wires 24 and 25 and after the connection has been made, these wires are soldered together and then wrapped with tape. Consequently, to remove the service unit, it becomes necessary to disconnect this permanent connection which requires a cutting of the 'wire. It is obvious, therefore, that in case it becomes necessary to remove the service unit for repair, for decoration, cleaning and the like,

a considerable operation regarding the connec tions becomes necessary whereas with the present type of installation all of this work is avoided.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of structure of my invention, I,

do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction shown, but desire to availimyself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. An outlet connection, comprising: an outlet receptacle; a plaster ring arranged at the open side of said receptacle; a tubular supporting member within said receptacle; a flange on one end of said supporting member engaging the outer face of said ring and forming therewith a closure for the open side of said receptacle; a depending portion on said supporting member rearwardlyof 3 said flange; a contact block mounted on said depending portion and having its front and rear faces exposed; and a pair of spaced contacts on said block. a V

2. In an outlet connection, a tubular supporting member, circular in cross section; a peripherally projecting flange at one end thereof; a radially outwardly bulged portion at the flange bearing end of said member for providing a compartment at said end, open at the front and rear; and a contact block mounted in said compartment.

' WALTER G. COLLING. 

